KinleyWater
Handloader
- Jun 15, 2019
- 1,074
- 1,432
This morning, I took my first ever deer; a spike.
Okay, I actually thought it was a doe in the early morning light, but I'm not complaining. The shot was a rather simple affair at about 104 yards, slightly downhill. Bullet struck proximal to the posterior edge of the right front leg, bisected both lungs, severed the heart from the arterial system, and broke the offside shoulder before exiting. Impact of the bullet was obscured by muzzle flash (a rather pretty and very pronounced orange fireball), but I did see him drop and fall over the edge of a hill. It was not a long search to find him, but remarkably, in spite of all his injuries, he managed to make it some 30 yards before expiring.
The load was some of my hand-rolls:
*edit* 35 Whelen
200gr Hornady InterLock PSP
Book minimum (or near it) of Reloader 15
Hornady brass
Winchester LRP
I have not chronographed these, but based on my experience with this rifle and other loads I have, I expect the velocity to be in the 2450 fps neighborhood. Accuracy was superb (for my skill level).
The load/ rifle combination proved effective, but I am somewhat disappointed in the performance. Entrance wound was just over 35 caliber, which was to be expected from a basic exposed tip C&C bullet due to hydraulic forces. One lung (I'm uncertain if it was near or far side) was so thoroughly jellied that it disintegrated as I tried to scoop it out of the chest cavity. Yet the exit wound was just a bit smaller than the entrance. I expect, based on the degree of internal damage, that the bullet expanded as intended, but the petals sheared off when passing through the shoulder and only the shank exited. I won't know, since I had the carcass taken for processing.
For a whitetail size game animal, I think this is a fantastic bullet. I would not want to try it on anything more solidly constructed. I am sure that the number of people who have taken elk, or moose, or xxx with the Superformance round (using this same bullet at ~2900 fps) is legion (or at least the number who have claimed to), but I would not be confident in it for such a task.
Summation:
First, I am in awe at the world in which we live. That we have such creatures in it to watch, to learn about, and to sustain ourselves with is truly remarkable and in my opinion, beyond mere chance. Second, I am impressed by the sheer will to live exhibited by a creature which was essentially walking dead - only one semi-functioning lung, no heart, and a broken shoulder - and it still made it about 30 yards. Just amazing. Third, the 35 Whelen is a deadly cartridge when pair with the correct loading.
So, for me, it's back to looking for a doe and sitting with the wife while she hunts. Until then, safe and happy hunting all.
Okay, I actually thought it was a doe in the early morning light, but I'm not complaining. The shot was a rather simple affair at about 104 yards, slightly downhill. Bullet struck proximal to the posterior edge of the right front leg, bisected both lungs, severed the heart from the arterial system, and broke the offside shoulder before exiting. Impact of the bullet was obscured by muzzle flash (a rather pretty and very pronounced orange fireball), but I did see him drop and fall over the edge of a hill. It was not a long search to find him, but remarkably, in spite of all his injuries, he managed to make it some 30 yards before expiring.
The load was some of my hand-rolls:
*edit* 35 Whelen
200gr Hornady InterLock PSP
Book minimum (or near it) of Reloader 15
Hornady brass
Winchester LRP
I have not chronographed these, but based on my experience with this rifle and other loads I have, I expect the velocity to be in the 2450 fps neighborhood. Accuracy was superb (for my skill level).
The load/ rifle combination proved effective, but I am somewhat disappointed in the performance. Entrance wound was just over 35 caliber, which was to be expected from a basic exposed tip C&C bullet due to hydraulic forces. One lung (I'm uncertain if it was near or far side) was so thoroughly jellied that it disintegrated as I tried to scoop it out of the chest cavity. Yet the exit wound was just a bit smaller than the entrance. I expect, based on the degree of internal damage, that the bullet expanded as intended, but the petals sheared off when passing through the shoulder and only the shank exited. I won't know, since I had the carcass taken for processing.
For a whitetail size game animal, I think this is a fantastic bullet. I would not want to try it on anything more solidly constructed. I am sure that the number of people who have taken elk, or moose, or xxx with the Superformance round (using this same bullet at ~2900 fps) is legion (or at least the number who have claimed to), but I would not be confident in it for such a task.
Summation:
First, I am in awe at the world in which we live. That we have such creatures in it to watch, to learn about, and to sustain ourselves with is truly remarkable and in my opinion, beyond mere chance. Second, I am impressed by the sheer will to live exhibited by a creature which was essentially walking dead - only one semi-functioning lung, no heart, and a broken shoulder - and it still made it about 30 yards. Just amazing. Third, the 35 Whelen is a deadly cartridge when pair with the correct loading.
So, for me, it's back to looking for a doe and sitting with the wife while she hunts. Until then, safe and happy hunting all.
